Disclaimer: Do I really have to? (Looks at lawyer; lawyer nods; I sigh) I do not own Twilight or any of its characters. They all belong to the very fortunate Stephenie Meyer. All possible recognizable things are also not mine. The only thing I own, however, is this story's plot.
A/N: ¡Hola! :D It's been a while since I wrote another story. School's been hectic and other activities came up. Nevertheless, here I am, writing a short story to entertain you, guys! Hope you like it!
Enjoy!
Runaway
Chapter 1: Dread
"Isabella, are you listening to me?" Mother said sharply.
"Oh, of course, I am, Mother," I replied quickly. In truth, I'd only been hearing half of what she was saying. When the words "to be married this Monday" slipped from my mother's mouth, I knew I would be a complete prisoner for the rest of my life. My life would be given to my husband–whose identity I had no idea of–and be devoted to my future children.
Even in my adolescent years, I'd never had a chance to do what I liked or loved. When I reached the age of five, Mother hired a governess for me, and I was taught how to play various instruments, how to draw, and even how to sew. There had been no enough time for my favorite pastime: reading.
My governess had been very strict and disputed the way I spend the day locked in my room, reading, rather than going to tea parties and balls. Mother banned me from reading when she received a complaint from the governess and told me to behave; my heart had been so crushed that I could barely reconstruct it.
The only person who truly understood me was my father. He would call me when I was in the middle of sewing class–the class that I loathed; he was well-aware of it–and let me read in his private library with him. He would give me a small smile when I would run to hug him. However, he died when I was five and ten, and I cried the most at his funeral; my sole savior and the only person who loved me had left me.
Turning eight and ten last month, Mother decided that I need to wed. Knowing my mother's desire for money and power, she would choose someone, like a Noble. I expected it all. Though I was unwilling to the whole plan, I must obey my mother because that was the right choice.
But was it still the right choice, even if it was something I didn't want, or possibly, didn't love?
We heard a carriage pulling up and Mother's eyes sparkled. "It's him, Isabella. He's here. Act nice around him, all right?" Mother gushed. She rushed outside, but not before instructing the lady's maid to help me fix up.
Who is he? Maybe Mother had been telling me about him while I was pretending to listen. I sighed.
"He is Lord James, miss," the lady's maid informed me quietly. She probably saw the confusion written all over my face. "His father runs the town's trading market."
I sighed once more. "Someone with money. Just as I thought." She helped me with my hair, and I was left with nothing but to follow my mother's command. I went downstairs.
"She's gorgeous, I assure."
"Is that her, milady?"
"Yes. And this one is her first drawing. She's quite talented, isn't she?"
"Yes."
Those were the lines that passed between my mother and Lord James while I was at the staircase. I took a deep breath and put a forced smile on my face.
I prayed this would be good.
***RUNAWAY***
Meeting Lord James wasn't a pleasant thing. He was not at all that good-looking, and left me a strange impression. More on like, he was a hunter than the son of a merchant. He seemed attracted to me once he laid his eyes on me, while I was not.
My wedding would be tomorrow, and to say I dreaded it was an understatement. In twenty-four hours, I would be married to someone I didn't love or even like! What a selfish world I was in! How could God give me this kind of life?
I entered the church in my pink Sunday dress and instantly felt guilty for my sinful thoughts. I shouldn't question God about what was happening in my life. I believed that He had plans for all of us, and everything happened for a reason.
An idea passed in my mind. Telling my mother where I was going, I went back to the church entrance, stopping in front of the small, six-feet-sized compartments. Someone was in the right stall, and the priest, I presumed, was inside, too.
I entered the stall on the left and waited for the priest. Butterflies seemed to fill my stomach. What if the priest thought I was simply being foolish? But all I wanted was an outlet for my suppressed emotions, and who else could hear it if not a servant of God? Keeping my eyes on the ground, I heard the priest from the screen.
"Um–" a velvety voice said uncertainly. I took that as my cue.
"Minister, I know that I should ask for forgiveness for my sins. But there's only one thing that I want to ask for forgiveness, and that is for lying to myself. Even though I know following my mother's wish is the right choice, I can't help but feel sad and devastated. An arrange marriage shouldn't be that bad, right?" I murmured miserably. Tears escaped my eyes, surprising me. "Thank you anyway, Minister, for somehow listening to me. Thank you." Without another word, I fled from the confession room, seating back with my mother and wiping the tears from my cheeks.
***RUNAWAY***
"The food, my God, call the servants! We must prepare them all before dawn!" Mother's shrieking was starting to bother me. My wedding gown was hidden in the closet, and I was left in my room to sleep. But I couldn't, knowing that my time would soon be up. I'd be a married woman tomorrow and a wife to Lord James. How that brought chills to me!
I closed my eyes and tried to sleep through my mother's screams. Somehow in my dreams, the priest with the velvety voice managed to calm and give me some peace.